MEDfOR - Mediterranean Forestry and Natural Resources Management

Mediterranean Forestry and Natural Resources Management (MEDfOR) is a fully integrated two-yearworld-class Erasmus Mundus Master Course. It answers a call from the Mediterranean forestry community for a coordinated approach to develop reliable information and tools - based on sound science and a multidisciplinary approach -, to improve forest and natural resources management in the Mediterranean region.

MEDfOR brings together the best expertise, human resources and facilities 1) to educate the next generation of leaders in forestry and natural resources and land management in the Mediterranean region and 2) to address forestry, natural resources and environmental challenges throughout Mediterranean regions.MEDfOR develops an innovative and integrated approach to graduate-level and specialization programs to provide students with advanced knowledge on domains that include: (i) the assessment of impacts of climate and land-use change on Mediterranean forest ecosystems functioning, (ii) the integration of the risk of wildfires on Mediterranean forested landscapes planning, (iii) the design of policy, economic and institutional instruments for sustainable provision of Mediterranean forest goods and services and (iv) the development of advanced decision support tools for Mediterranean forest management planning.MEDfOR provides study environments that excel both professionally and culturally.

Students may choose between two or three among eight countries to spend periods of at least a semester. All MEDfOR students will meet in a Summer School that will combine field work, seminars and further communication and exchange opportunities. This will be influential to foster an integrativeview of Mediterranean forestry and to promote cooperation ties. It will also be instrumental for students to become acquainted with different cultures and with different socio-economic conditions and institutional settings for Mediterranean forestry.The MEDfOR Programme builds on a current network of research universities and environments, taking the best from each to build up joint supervision, activities and master candidate courses. The language of the Programme is English. There are joint annual calls, and standard application, assessment and admission procedures. There are standard descriptions of all activities to ensure transparency. Master candidates obtain a doubleor a multiple degree. The possibility of a joint degree will be pursued.The MEDfOR consortium includes seven partner institutions and six associated partners from eight countries. Ties with the Mediterranean forestry community are further strengthened by a Consultation panel that includes theMediterranean Forest Owners Association, the World Wildlife Fund Mediterranean Office (WWFMed), the Association Internationale Forêt Méditerranéenne and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).